Creating a Mood Board

Mood boards are really important as they are the inspiration of your room. They act as the central foundations for you to refer to prior and during a project. To create the perfect mood board, one that portrays exactly what you are trying to achieve and as something that is functional and helps you visualise your interior design concept. A simple way to start is to go out and buy some foam board from a stationary store, such as Staples, which can be A3 or A1 in either white or black. I quite like using black boards at the moment to give me a stronger look and creates fabulous impact. Look for images from interior design magazines, but equally fashion magazines for your inspiration. Interior design is a lot like fashion as clothes can represent furniture; for instance a black leather jacket with a silver zip could be a beautiful leather chair with chrome or studded legs.

Mood boards are to detail every facet of the room so you will also need to find images of moods and ACTUAL items you would like to use. I like finding a “mood” first and then add detail once I know which direction the theme is going in. For instance, if you live by the sea and you want a beach feel in your living room, start by looking for a lovely room images by the sea and with the look and feel you are working to create. Don’t be frightened to grab a few different images, as you can mix ideas to create your own individual room. Look for some natural textures and accessories to reflect the theme you are aiming for. Fabrics should be added to your mood board, remember to mix your textures and start with your flooring as this is a large plane of the room, and bring your colours and textures together to see how they work in context. You can add images of lampshades, unique items of furniture, throws, chairs, or even just quirky shapes and patterns that attract your attention as these will play a significant role in the overall look you are trying to create. Do not forget to include any lighting ideas, as this is key to creating mood in any room. Play around with small fabric samples, but don’t glue anything to the board until you feel happy with the selection you have put together!!

I recommend having one board for each room. Revisit them over a period of days as you will start to see different things with fresh eyes. I personally keep my mood boards out on display from the beginning so that I can keep looking at them – you’ll be surprised what you notice or wish to change from taking time over them. Words can fail when trying to describe design concepts and it doesn’t need to be difficult so a mood board is the perfect medium to showcase your ideas. Get creative this week and give it a go!

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About me:

Hi, I’m Celia Sawyer, a proud mother of two and owner of Celia Sawyer
Luxury Interiors and Cool10 Furniture Collection. Every two weeks I will be
writing a column to share with you my knowledge of everything from how to
improve your home on a budget to how to draw inspiration from your
surroundings when turning your house into a home. I have worked on projects
all around the globe, working with A-list celebrities and normal people
alike. For more information about my work you can visit my website,
celiasawyer.com.